The Newfoundland and Labrador government has decided to suspend the lobster processing licence belonging to seafood company Quin-Sea, in Southern Harbour, due to an "overcrowding" of the shellfish stored in a holding pen.
Seafood inspectors with the provincial fisheries department fastened yellow caution tape to the wharf with the words "under detention" in black letters, CBC News reported.
Those with knowledge of the operation say the holding pen lacks proper circulation, and that lobsters are either dying or weakening because of a lack of oxygen in the water.
Provincial Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne said the rare suspension was issued following a series of inspections that uncovered violations of the province's Fish Inspection Act.